Fall 2014

Fall of 2014 started off with Amber going back to work at Todd Elementary School and John slowly finishing up the golf season at Glen Erin.  We all traveled to Germantown to spend some time with our friends Amie and Brian and their son Aidan.  We got to have some adult hang out time as well as go to the Milwaukee County Zoo with the kiddos.  It is so great having back to Wisconsin so that we can get together more often!

The Okray family pretending to be cows

London and Aidan riding a cow

Okray family selfie

The next weekend we all traveled to Madison to meet up with John's sister Michelle and John's good friend Brandon for dinner at A.J. Bombers.  The next day John and Brandon met some other friends to compete in a golf tournament where they took 2nd Place.  While they were golfing Michelle, London and Amber went to a pumpkin patch near Madison.  We ate caramel apples, meet some animals and took a hayride.  It was a beautiful fall day and we all had a wonderful time.

How tall is London?  About 2 1/2 feet as of early September.

Feeding the goats.

Petting the kittens

Silly smile for Auntie Michelle

Auntie Michelle and London

Mommy and London eating caramel apples

Amber and her friend Melissa went to see Garth Brooks in concert in Rosemont, IL on September 14th.  It was something that they both always wanted to do and Garth met all of their expectations as a performer.

Melissa and Amber waiting for the show to start

Garth Brooks on stage

Two weeks later Amber and John went to Josh and Mary's Wedding in Madison.  Josh is on the same trivia team as John.  It was a very warm day for September which was nice because the ceremony was outside over looking a golf course.  The reception was at the golf course too.  They had donuts for their "cake" and Bucky Badger came to dance and take pictures with the guests.  It was a very fun time!  London stayed with Auntie Michelle and had a fun "girls day" taking a walk and playing.

At the wedding reception

All the Festivus people at the wedding

Bucky Badger hanging out with us

Auntie Michelle and London on their "girls day"

A few weeks later Amber's mom, Diane, came down for a visit.  She was able to hang out with London while Amber had a few late work days and celebrated Amber's birthday with us.  Amber's brother, Adam, was also able to come for a short visit.  It was rainy and cold for most of the time while they were here, but it was a nice visit nonetheless.

Uncle Adam and London hanging out at home

Shopping with Grandma Diane, Uncle Adam and Daddy

That same week Amber and John received tickets for their birthdays to go see Jerry Seinfeld do stand-up at the Pabst Theatre in Milwaukee.  He was hilarious!  We were able to have a nice dinner and some drinks after the show and we stayed overnight in downtown Milwaukee.  We even got to meet up with Amie and Brian for a kidless brunch!  Michelle was excited to stay home and take care of London.

Walking to brunch from our hotel the night after seeing Jerry Seinfeld.

The week after that Mike, Mary and Michelle all came down to Janesville to celebrate our birthdays.  We went out for fish on Friday night and then for breakfast on Saturday morning before they headed back home.

Friday Fish Fry to celebrate John's birthday

Saturday breakfast on John's birthday

All of us after breakfast

Auntie Michelle and London after breakfast

The next week Amber and London headed up to Appleton to visit with Amber's family.  John had to work all weekend so he stayed home.  Amber, London, Mema Betty and Riley went to Diane's grocery store for trick-or-treating.  Our friend Cristina gave us a chicken costume for London and she was adorable in it!  On Sunday they went out for brunch in Appleton before heading home to Janesville.

Riley and London Trick-or-Treating at Grandma Diane's Grocery Store

Munching on some of the treats

London and Grandma Diane

The next week we had trunk-or-treating at Amber's school and then trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.  Michelle came to Janesville to have dinner at Glen Erin and to go trick-or-treat with us on Halloween.

Trunk-or-Treat at Amber's School

John and London Trunk-or-Treating

Auntie Michelle and London getting ready to go to dinner at Glen Erin

Running around Glen Erin after dinner

London's all ready to go Trick-or-Treating in our neighborhood

The next weekend the Becker Family and the Beeman Family came to Janesville to have a playdate.  We had pizza and drinks and let the kids play in the Packer Room downstairs.  It was nice to chat and let the kids hang out.

The weekend after that John and London went up to Stevens Point to visit family and for John to play in a trivia contest with some friends.  Amber stayed home and got some projects done around the house.  London had fun hanging out with Auntie Michelle, Uncle Mikey, Grandma Mary and Papa Mike.

Grandma Mary, Auntie Michelle and London in Stevens Point

Playing with Grandma Mary's tupperware

"What are you looking at?"

Taking a walk and having a photo shoot with Uncle Mikey and Auntie Michelle

London playing with her dollhouse that Mommy put together while London was gone

The next weekend we headed up to Appleton to visit family and for John and Amber to go to the Packers vs. Eagles Game.  The game was awesome!  The Packers dominated the entire time and ended up winning 53 to 20.  Every time we looked up they were scoring another touchdown!  We had a great time with our friends Tom, Lauren, Drew and Amy and London got to hang out with Grandma Diane and Mema Betty.

Pre-game drinks

Tom, Drew and John

Amy, Amber and Lauren

Grandma Diane and London taking selfies during the game

The very next weekend we headed to Milwaukee to see Amie, Brian and Aidan as well as our friends Megan and Avery and their daughter Lily.  We went down to the Pabst Brewery where they had a traditional German Winter Market.  We had some gluwein and beer and heard some traditional German music.

The Okray's, the Beeman's and the Oberstadt's at the German Winter Market in Milwaukee

Three days later we headed up to Stevens Point to celebrate Thanksgiving with John's family.  The weather was a little chilly, but John, Amber, Michelle and Mike ventured out to participated in the Stevens Point Turkey Trot 5K Walk/Run.  We had a great turkey dinner with all the trimmings and enjoyed swimming at the water park where Mike and Mary stayed for part of the weekend.

Amber, John, Michelle and Mike at the Stevens Point Turkey Trot

Michelle and Amber getting ready to trot

Michelle and John (with an Amber photobomb) ready to trot

The extended Okray family on Thanksgiving in Stevens Point

Grandma Mary and Papa Mike with all the grandkids (Jared, Justin, London and Aaron)

Aaron and London coloring

Aaron pushing London during our walk down Okray Drive

Justin showing of his muscles on our walk

Fall 2014 was a fun and eventful season.  Hopefully winter 2014-2015 will be just as exciting!

Until next time...Go Pack Go!

Summer 2014

Summer 2014 started with Amber finishing up the 2013-2014 school year and with John getting into full gear for the summer golf season.  We made sure to add in some fun by heading to the Brewer Game with Adam and Becky on Father's Day (June 15th).

Waiting in line to enter Miller Park

During the game

John and London running (or walking) the bases after the game.

The next week we headed up to Madison to spend some time with Michelle. We ate dinner at State Street Brats, walked up and down State Street and had some ice cream at the Union. It was a beautiful  warm evening and a very pretty sunset.

Madison Union at sunset

Enjoying a beautiful sunset

Family photo at sunset

The next week Amber and London headed up to Stevens Point to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Okray and then meet Amber's Grandma Betty and cousin Riley to make a trip to Minnesota for Amber's cousins wedding on June 28th.  They went on a boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka for the rehearsal dinner and then the wedding took place the next day at a spa. It was very nice to visit with family.

Hanging out with Grandma Mary in Stevens Point

Ready for a walk

Boat cruise during the rehearsal dinner

Yummy wedding cake!

Hanging out with Great-Grandma Betty at the hotel

On July 2nd Amber and John went to Milwaukee to meet up with friends Briton and Maureen and go to the Dave Matthews Band Concert at Summerfest.  It was Amber's first time seeing DMB and they really put on a good show!  We even stayed the night and had a nice brunch with Briton and Maureen the next day. We were happy to have Michelle come and take care of London for us.

With Amber not teaching summer school this summer (the first time ever!) she and London had lots of time to go on walks, head to the park and go to the library for story time.  It was awesome to have so much Mom and London time!  She might even continue to stay home next summer ;)

A little dancing during story time at the library

London and Will working on a 4th of July craft after story time

On Saturday July 12th we went up to Madison to peruse the Madison Farmers Market and Art Fair. We bought some fresh veggies and scones and took home a load of spicy cheese bread (yum!). We also had lunch on the capital lawn and were able to explore the Madison Library which for London was the highlight of the day because she is such a bookworm!

Hanging out with Auntie Michelle at the Madison Farmer's Market

Cute as can be on the capitol lawn

Hugging a tree...

Happy girl!

The next week London started her second round of swimming lessons.  They were actually cancelled on the second day because it was too cold. Otherwise the lessons went great. She's getting really good at kicking her legs and scooping her arms and blowing bubbles.

Amber and London during swimming lessons

The next weekend Amber and London went up to Appleton for a visit. They meet up with Jen and her son Rory at the park and went swimming with Riley.  They also did some shopping to make sure we were prepared for our Germany trip.

Great-Grandma Betty and London having a foot soak

Which for London turned into an entire body soak...

London meeting Rory

That next week Adam came to Janesville for a few days and we spent some time at the Rock County 4H Fair.  We had fun seeing the animals and eating some yummy fair food. 

John and London looking at the baby pheasants

London playing in the corn pit

Uncle Adam and London at the 4H Fair

On the 29th of July we (Amber, John, London, Grandma Betty, Diane and Steve) went to Chicago to fly out of O'Hare for our two week trip of a lifetime to Munich, Germany!  If you don't know the story of how our family in Germany came to be here is a short synopsis:

When Amber's mom was in high school she and Amber's grandparents and mom hosted a German exchange student (Angie).  The next year Amber's mom Diane went to Germany through the same exchange program to stay with Angie's family.   Since then we have kept in contact with our German "family" via phone, snail mail, email and now Facebook and texting. We're on four generations of  family and we have gone to Germany many times (although this trip was John, London and Steve's first time) and many of our German family members have also come to visit us here.

We had an amazing time catching up, going sightseeing and experiencing German life. We feel so blessed to be able to take such a great trip!

We made it safely (first picture inside the Munich airport after getting through customs)

Relaxing on our first day in Germany

German food and music at an outdoor concert

During the concert

Boat ride on Chimsee

King Ludwig's Castle on the Man Island of Chimsee

View from Germany into Austria

Castle cannon balls in Berghausen

Shots!

German beer and food at an outdoor festival

John, Amber and London at the Silent Night Church

London playing on the island on Konigsee

John, Amber and London on the island on Konigsee

Steve, Diane, Amber and John getting ready to go into the salt mines

John and London on the hill above Tussling

John, Amber and London giving our key a kiss before we throw it into the river in Austria

London's first train ride

Mattias, Joe, Claudia, John, Julia and Amber at a bier garden in Munich

John and Amber overlooking the city of Munich

Irene, Julia, Amber, John, Joe and Mattias overlooking the city of Munich

We got home from our trip on August 12th and adjusted back to "normal" life pretty quickly.  On August 14th Amber and London went up to Green Bay to meet up with the Music Girls and all of our kiddos for a trip to the Green Bay Children's Museum and to the park as well as some catch up time for us mommies :)

Jacob, Caanan, London, Lucas and Vivi hanging out at Justine's house

Caanan and Jacob fishing while Cristina, Vivi, Mallory and Lucas watch

Soon after (August 25th) Amber headed back to work and just like that our summer was quickly over. It was a blast and we are excited for fall.

Until the end of next season...Go Pack Go!